USDTradFi-Crypto Ties This Week: Mastercard Deal, WLFI Surge, Barclays Ban
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Wealthy US Investors Prefer Crypto-Savvy Advisers, Survey Shows
A June 2025 CoinShares survey reveals that 82% of wealthy US investors prefer advisers who offer crypto guidance, with 49% actively seeking those with proven expertise. Among the 500 respondents, 88% currently work with advisers, and 58% trust them for digital asset information over other sources. Key services desired include compliant investment vehicles (54%) and portfolio strategies (54%). Notable concerns arise, as 29% cite red flags for advisers lacking personal crypto experience. The report highlights the strong demand for digital asset knowledge, with 91% of advisers optimistic about Bitcoin's adoption and 90% of crypto holders planning to increase exposure in 2025.
Mastercard and Chainlink Partner to Enable 3 Billion Users to Buy Crypto On-Chain
Mastercard has partnered with Chainlink to enable over 3 billion Mastercard users to buy cryptocurrencies directly on-chain, merging traditional finance with decentralized finance. Announced on June 24, 2025, this integration uses Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol to facilitate seamless and compliant transactions. Key players include Shift4 Payments for fiat processing and ZeroHash for crypto liquidity. The initiative aims to eliminate onboarding barriers, making crypto accessible to both veterans and newcomers. With a focus on scalability and compliance, this move enhances Mastercard’s crypto strategy, reflecting a significant shift while intensifying competition with Visa in the digital asset space.
South Korea's Major Banks Unite to Launch Won-Pegged Stablecoin Amid Foreign Dominance
South Korea's eight largest banks have united to launch a Korean-won-pegged stablecoin, addressing the rising dominance of foreign stablecoins like USDT and USDC, which saw a trade volume of 56.95 trillion won ($41.6 billion) in Q1 2025. This initiative, coordinated by the Open Blockchain & DID Association and backed by the Financial Supervisory Service, introduces a dual model design: one tied to client funds in escrow and another linked to bank deposits. The collaboration, seen as a move to bolster monetary sovereignty and public trust post-Terra-Luna collapse, is set to pilot issuance by early 2026.
SoFi Reintroduces Bitcoin and ETH Trading, Launches Blockchain-Based Global Remittances
SoFi Technologies, a leading fintech company and largest online lender in the U.S., announced the reintroduction of spot crypto trading, including Bitcoin and ETH, after halting services in 2023 due to regulatory issues. The new features will launch later this year, alongside a blockchain-based global remittance service allowing 24/7 international transfers with transparent fees and instant currency conversion in the SoFi app. The initiative follows positive first-quarter earnings and a changing regulatory landscape, enabling nationally chartered banks to offer crypto services. SoFi aims to provide unmatched financial products and services, enhancing user choice and control.
Bit Digital's Stock Drops 19% Amid $150M Public Offering and Shift to Ethereum Staking
Bit Digital's stock plummeted nearly 19% over five days, closing at $1.99, following a $150 million public offering and a shift from Bitcoin mining to Ethereum staking. The company plans to sell 75 million shares at $2 each to fund its ETH acquisition. After converting its Bitcoin into Ether, Bit Digital could hold approximately 42,000 ETH valued at around $103 million. Investors reacted negatively, with the stock declining over 40% this year. Previously ranked 12th among Bitcoin mining firms, Bit Digital has dropped to 13th following this strategic pivot. The company's transition includes enhancing its Ethereum treasury and staking infrastructure.
Barclays Bans Crypto Credit Card Purchases Amid Fraud and Volatility Concerns
Barclays has announced it will prohibit cryptocurrency purchases via credit cards starting June 27, 2025, citing concerns over fraud and price volatility. The bank warns that the unpredictable nature of crypto can lead to unmanageable debt for cardholders and highlights the lack of consumer protection for crypto assets, which are not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. This move aligns Barclays with other UK banks like JPMorgan Chase, TBC Bank, and Lloyds Bank, which have implemented similar restrictions amid rising scam claims, despite payment networks like Mastercard expanding crypto access.
BIS Report: Stablecoins Fail as Money, Threaten Financial Stability and Sovereignty
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) recently criticized stablecoins in its 2025 Annual Economic Report, stating they "fail as money" due to a lack of "singleness," "elasticity," and "integrity." Stablecoins, issued by private entities, can fluctuate in value, undermining their universal acceptance. They do not efficiently adjust supply like central bank money and are vulnerable to criminal use via unhosted wallets. The BIS warns that widespread stablecoin adoption threatens monetary sovereignty, particularly in smaller economies. Urgent regulatory frameworks are necessary to limit stablecoins' functionalities and protect financial stability, echoing historical lessons on the failures of private money systems.
OKX Considers U.S. IPO Following April Relaunch and DOJ Settlement
Global crypto exchange OKX is considering an IPO in the United States, following its relaunch of U.S. operations in April. This strategic move comes after a $500 million settlement with the DOJ in February over licensing allegations. OKX has established its headquarters in San Jose and expanded its U.S. workforce to around 500 employees under regional CEO Roshan Robert. The potential IPO reflects a growing trend among crypto exchanges, with competitors such as Kraken, Gemini, and Peter Thiel-backed Bullish also exploring listings. This expansion signifies OKX's commitment to strengthening its presence in the U.S. market.
Guotai Junan Shares Soar 200% After Hong Kong Crypto Trading License Approval
Shares of Guotai Junan, a Hong Kong-listed Chinese securities firm, soared nearly 200% after receiving a license upgrade from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to offer cryptocurrency trading services. The stock jumped 198% to close at HK$3.7 on June 26, 2025, and reached a high of HK$7.02 intraday on June 27 before closing at HK$3.54, marking a 185% increase over two days. Other Chinese brokerages, including China Merchants Securities and Huatai International, are also pursuing similar license upgrades amid Hong Kong's supportive crypto regulatory environment.
Gemini Launches Tokenized MSTR Shares in EU, Expanding Access to U.S. Equities
Gemini has launched tokenized trading for MSTR shares in the EU, marking its entry into tokenized U.S. equities via a partnership with Dinari. This initiative allows users to purchase fractional shares as on-chain tokens backed by real securities, initially available on Arbitrum. The launch aims to democratize access to U.S. stocks, promoting financial inclusion globally. Tokenized stocks provide benefits such as fractional ownership and direct on-chain settlement, reducing transaction friction. Gemini plans to expand its offerings soon, positioning itself as a pioneer in compliant tokenized stock trading amidst rising institutional interest in digital asset solutions.
Bolt Launches 'Bolt Connect' to Simplify Merchant Onboarding and Enable Stablecoin Payments
Bolt has launched 'Bolt Connect' to streamline merchant onboarding while introducing stablecoin payment support, amid a booming stablecoin market now valued at $228 billion. The integration simplifies compliance and backend infrastructure, addressing challenges for marketplace operators. Major players like Stripe, Visa, and Mastercard are also embracing stablecoins, with Stripe expanding to 101 countries and Visa facilitating payments in 20 African nations. Monthly stablecoin transfers exceed $4.1 trillion, with B2B payments at a $36 billion annual rate. Traditional banks are exploring joint stablecoin projects following regulatory clarity, signaling stablecoins' evolution into essential payment infrastructure.
Robinhood Launches Micro Futures for XRP and Solana, Expanding Crypto Offerings
On June 27, 2025, Robinhood Markets announced the launch of micro futures contracts for XRP and Solana, expanding its crypto product offerings. Micro futures enable traders to speculate on price movements with lower capital requirements and reduced risk compared to standard futures. Robinhood has rolled out a range of futures products earlier this year, including Bitcoin and Ethereum futures. The firm recently completed a $200 million acquisition of crypto exchange Bitstamp, a move aimed at enhancing its global presence. Additionally, Robinhood is exploring the acquisition of the Kevin O'Leary-backed WonderFi platform to further expand its market reach.
Trump’s WLFI Gains $100M UAE Backing as $32M TRUMP Tokens Dumped Ahead of Iran Strikes
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), partly owned by Donald Trump, announced plans to enable token transfers amid rising institutional demand, despite $5M in daily WLFI pre-market trading while tokens remain non-transferable. UAE-based Aqua 1 launched with a $100M WLFI token investment to drive global expansion, especially in Asia and the Middle East. Trump also partnered with UK’s Re7 hedge fund to expand WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin via BNB Chain’s Lista protocol. Meanwhile, on June 22, $32M in TRUMP memecoins linked to Trump’s wallets were moved to Binance just before U.S. strikes in Iran, prompting insider trading speculation.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
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